Repurposing Old Usable Cell Phones?

zentogo wonders: "As I stroll through the local recycle shops in my little Japanese City, I see boxes of used KEITAI-- Japanese Cell Phones. Most of them only a two or three years old, with more technology and features than any affordable phone in the USA, and they actually work! See, Japanese people cycle to new technology, especially phones, very quickly, and it is almost impossible for them not to. Take my own personal example: after one year with the telecom KDDI, I was given a free phone. It had more features than my previous one, and was much lighter, so when I was offered the deal I changed on the spot! So I wonder, what can be done with all these old phones? Can they be recycled for parts or even software? Can they be adapted to another type of technology? It would seem to be a big waste of decent hardware if something interesting couldn't be done with them."

Comments

Off topic, but pet peeve

[antifoidulus]

Why do people insisit on pretending to be cool by inserting random Japanese words in English conversations? Yes, the Japanese word for cellular phone is "Keitai Denwa", I should know, I worked for KDDI for 6 months. But you know what, I use the word "Keitai Denwa" only when I am speaking JAPANESE to people who understand JAPANESE. I don't need to pretend I am so cool by inserting the words into English conversations.
And why does it only happen with the Japanese language, why not other ones:
So Je am sitting ici in meiguo but I am moving to Deutschland. Demo I no hablas Deutsch.
Doesn't seem so cool after all.....

Re:Off topic, but pet peeve

[dedazo]

You sir have not watched Iron Chef.

Aside from the kook in the Palomino jacket, it's a great insight into Japanese culture. It makes you kewl.

For example, while at the pub chugging a few pints and talking about how much Chelsea suxx0rz this year, exult "nomimasen deshita, you old fruit!" as if you were saying "you dumbass, that wanker goalie should be shot". It has great effect on the women as well. Engrish is "teh sexy", as they say.

No need to thank me now, I gotta get back to work.

kaida arigato!